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The Martin Campbell Zorro Movies...

chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
edited August 2023 in General Discussion Posts: 17,804
Martin Campbell did two Bond movies and two Zorro movies.
I loved all four of these films.
Care to contrast & compare?

Comments

  • TheSkyfallen06TheSkyfallen06 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
    Posts: 1,103
    Goldeneye is a story about a man having to adapt to the modern society where his actions and morals are questionable.
    Casino Royale is a story about a man and his journey that made him become who he was.

    The Mask of Zorro is the story of a vigilante passing the torch to a younger apprentice and the process of what it takes it to be.
    The Legend of Zorro is an action/rom-com.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,804
    TheSkyfallen06 wrote: »
    Goldeneye is a story about a man having to adapt to the modern society where his actions and morals are questionable.
    Casino Royale is a story about a man and his journey that made him become who he was.

    The Mask of Zorro is the story of a vigilante passing the torch to a younger apprentice and the process of what it takes it to be.
    The Legend of Zorro is an action/rom-com.

    Okay, nicely put. The Bond movies are not sequels. Campbell got to approach them each very differently. But the Zorro sequel provided a very different challenge to him and the writers: how to do another movie without just re-making the first. Go Mummy 2 & have a kid as comedy relief. Plus the romantic problems. Not quite the CW level junk, but fun enough. The action was still there...
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited August 2023 Posts: 16,428
    I liked that the Zorro films had a gunbarrel sequence!

    The first one is absolutely superb, great James Horner score too.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,187
    Haven't seen the sequel to TMOZ yet. But GE and CR are in my top three of Bond films, and I recall really liking TMOZ, although it may be 20 yrs since I've last seen it.
  • goldenswissroyalegoldenswissroyale Switzerland
    Posts: 4,483
    CR and GE are my favourite Bond movies and the Mask of Zorro is a film a liked a lot as a teenager. I think I haven't seen it since then...
    I remember watching the Legend of Zorro at the cinema and it was...okay. I never watched it again while I recorded the first one on VHS and watched it several times.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,428
    Yeah, Legend is fine, but you can understand why they didn't make a sequel to it; it was not as good as its predecessor. The PTS is excellent fun and has some great stunt work though.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,804
    mtm wrote: »
    Yeah, Legend is fine, but you can understand why they didn't make a sequel to it; it was not as good as its predecessor. The PTS is excellent fun and has some great stunt work though.

    Legend kind of comes to an end. I think they knew while making it it would be the final one...
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,428
    I must admit I can't remember the end! Is it something to do with them becoming part of the States and not needing Zorro any more? I remember it's got a climax with a train, but ironically it rather loses steam.
  • PDJamesBondPDJamesBond
    Posts: 669
    I stand by my opinion that The Mask of Zorro is one of the greatest adventure movies ever made. It's so beautifully filmed and lovingly crafted, with wonderful performances, a sweeping score, stunning landscapes, a vivid sense of place and time, and sensational action, including some of the best sword fights ever put on film.

    The Legend of Zorro is...a movie. It exists.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    edited August 2023 Posts: 17,804
    mtm wrote: »
    I must admit I can't remember the end! Is it something to do with them becoming part of the States and not needing Zorro any more? I remember it's got a climax with a train, but ironically it rather loses steam.

    The ending is magnificent IMO. I just finished watching it minutes ago. I'd actually forgotten how much I love this movie. And yes, I like it as much or more than the original. Wow I had a great time just now...

    Edit: I think the problem is that the first one was rather simple and straightforward, whereas Legend is a much more complicated story. It's more like a Bond film with Banderas set in 1850. Which I love, actually. It's also a long movie because of how much is happening. An investment in attention to the non-action scenes, as it were.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,428
    I've been holed up with covid this weekend so watched Mask again this afternoon: it's absolutely cracking still. I forgot how much great value Hopkins is in it, although everyone is terrific.
    I love the completely unnecessary horse chase- there is no reason for it to even happen in the story! :) It's just there to show off some completely fantastic stuntwork. I love the style of stunts you get in these movies- that sort of prancing run that Zorro does, and his perfect acrobatics every time: it just works so well and puts a smile on your face.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,804
    mtm wrote: »
    I've been holed up with covid this weekend so watched Mask again this afternoon: it's absolutely cracking still. I forgot how much great value Hopkins is in it, although everyone is terrific.
    I love the completely unnecessary horse chase- there is no reason for it to even happen in the story! :) It's just there to show off some completely fantastic stuntwork. I love the style of stunts you get in these movies- that sort of prancing run that Zorro does, and his perfect acrobatics every time: it just works so well and puts a smile on your face.

    Sorry you're in the Covid bin, but throw on Legend now! May be as fun!
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,139
    Growing up, I had two heroes: James Bond and Zorro.

    Ironically Martin Campbell Directed four films that all apply.

    The Mask of Zorro is one of my all-time favourite films. I've watched that film so many times that I have lost count. It's almost the perfect action adventure film. A good story, great stunts, lovely atmosphere, well-acted, funny and I just love me a good swordfight. The music's pretty good too.

    The Legend of Zorro I quite like too, although it's not up there with its predecessor. The childactor actually does very well, but what takes the film down slightly for me is the slapstick humour, the bloodless violence and I'm still not quite sure why they need to drag in that USA subplot. Still, the atmosphere is there, Banderas and Zeta-Jones kept their chemistry and the stuntwork isn't too bad either.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,428
    There’s a slo mo shot in the PTS of Legend of Zorro falling backwards off the bridge whilst pulling out his whip, ready to lash back on, and I think it’s such a cool shot.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,804
    mtm wrote: »
    There’s a slo mo shot in the PTS of Legend of Zorro falling backwards off the bridge whilst pulling out his whip, ready to lash back on, and I think it’s such a cool shot.

    Yes, on my last viewing it made me gasp!
  • TheSkyfallen06TheSkyfallen06 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
    edited August 2023 Posts: 1,103
    Interesting...
    https://youtube.com/shorts/vGFazwLgZDU?feature=share
  • delfloriadelfloria
    Posts: 1,860
    All four films reflect Campbells flawless directing chops. Would not mind him returning for Bond 26.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,428
    TheSkyfallen06 wrote: »
    Interesting...
    https://youtube.com/shorts/vGFazwLgZDU?feature=share

    That’s a bit of a rough question; why couldn’t he still do it?
  • TheSkyfallen06TheSkyfallen06 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
    Posts: 1,103
    Back in 2001, there was a game for the Playstation 2 called The Shadow of Zorro.
    s-l400_7a8d9d6b-1333-45a6-88d3-2f5192e21ebc.jpg?v=1626845717
    And altough it seems to use the same "[BLANK] of Zorro" label from the duology, it has little to nothing to do with it.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,139
    TheSkyfallen06 wrote: »
    Back in 2001, there was a game for the Playstation 2 called The Shadow of Zorro.
    s-l400_7a8d9d6b-1333-45a6-88d3-2f5192e21ebc.jpg?v=1626845717
    And altough it seems to use the same "[BLANK] of Zorro" label from the duology, it has little to nothing to do with it.

    Back in the day, as a huge Zorro fan, this was on my wishlist, despite the terrible reviews. Never got it though...
  • TheSkyfallen06TheSkyfallen06 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
    edited July 16 Posts: 1,103
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,139
    Anyone who also watched the new Spanish-produced Zorro series?



    I've seen 8 out of the 10 episodes so far, and I quite like it.
  • TheSkyfallen06TheSkyfallen06 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
    edited July 16 Posts: 1,103
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    Anyone who also watched the new Spanish-produced Zorro series?



    I've seen 8 out of the 10 episodes so far, and I quite like it.

    I haven't seen it but I can assure you that, at least in my country Argentina, it will be very difficult to ever erase the image of Guy Williams as Zorro.
    Zorro03-blog.jpg?itok=rrJl8zmH
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,139
    TheSkyfallen06 wrote: »
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    Anyone who also watched the new Spanish-produced Zorro series?



    I've seen 8 out of the 10 episodes so far, and I quite like it.

    I haven't seen it but I can assure you that, at least in my country Argentina, it will be very difficult to ever erase the image of Guy Williams as Zorro.
    Zorro03-blog.jpg?itok=rrJl8zmH

    I know, and rightly so. He's also still my favourite Zorro, and the Eagle plotline in that series remains my favourite Zorro story.

    Having said that, I quite like a few of the others too: the spaghetti western with Delon, the action adventure with Banderas, and this new Spanish one.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    edited July 16 Posts: 17,804
    Banderas is MY Zorro! As a kid I saw Guy Williams whom I liked, Delon was good, but Martin Campbell gave us the most passionate & exciting Zorro since the excellent Tyrone Power version!
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,139
    Yep, Tyrone Power was also excellent!

    I was actually introduced to the character via Duncan Regher. Who I think also made a fine Zorro, the production values of that show though weren't always the best unfortunately. However, it had a cracking theme tune and two hilarious baddies.
  • TheSkyfallen06TheSkyfallen06 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
    edited November 8 Posts: 1,103
    It's been quite a while but i feel like we should turn this into an everything-Zorro thread, not just the Campbell movies.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,139
    As a Zorro fan, I agree 100%.
  • GerardGerard
    edited November 9 Posts: 5,997
    I do agree. A Zorro thread is missing on this board. BTW : Guy Williams all the way.

    3452324_1.jpg
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